Flexible gear



March 13, 1928. 1,662,493

G. M. EATON FLEXIBLE GEAR Filed March 24. 1924 22 i Y S 9 a 8 1 1 x v i26 WITNESSES: INVENTOR IXTTOIRNEY Patented Mar. 13, 1928.

UNITED STATES P TE OFFICE.

GEORGE M. EATON, OF WILKINSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR T WESTING- HOUSEELEGTRIG. & MANUFACTURING COMIPANY, A CORPORATION OI PENNSYL- VANIA.

FLEXIBLE GEAR.

Application filedMarcli 24, 1924. Serial No. 701,353.

My invention relates to flexible gear elements, more particularly toflexible gear- Wheels having a spherically-curved hub portion to providelimited universal movement of the toothed gear rim.

It is among the objects of my inventlon to provide a flexible gear-wheelof simple, com- 1 pact and durable mechanical construction, .which shallbe particularly adapted for rail- 30 Way service to couple the' driveshaftsor Jack-shafts of the drivers with the motor armatures. 1 D

It is a further object of my invention to provide a flexible. gearelement employlng a novel form-of spring element that is partic-:

ularly. adapted for use in gear-wheels of relatively small diameters.

It me still further object ofmy invention to provide aflexible gearwheel of the abovedesignated characterphaving a casing mem her that isadapted to fit on the sphericallycurved portion of the gear hub toprovide a i sealed lubricating chamber. .7

Various forms of flexible universally movable gear elements have beenproposed in which the hub and rim members are rela-.

tively movable and resiliently restrained by interposed spring elementsof either the c011 or the leaf-spring type, the latter being con- 30.structed in the form of spring nests which have their bases fitted orsecured in the hub or rim portion and their extending spring lleavesengaging with the complementary member.

wheel structure, in which tliehub portion may constitutean independentunit or an extending hub portion of a Wheel, the-hub being provided witha radial flange having,

symmetrically spaced openings for receiving the bases of a plurality ofspring nests and the gear rim havlng a radial flange provided with acomplementary seating surface for providing a movable or bearing fitwith the sphericallyrurved portion of the hub. The rim flange isprovided with openings for. receiving the projected leaves of the springelements, the longitudinal axes of reWhlCll are disposed axiallyrelative to the so hub portion. I -r"urther provide a casing,,the sidesof which are'fianged and provided with sphere J ice.lly eurved faces forengagement with the Mypresent invention is directed to such a I diubmember to provide adust-proof hous ing, which also constitutes alubricating chamber. 1

In the accompanyingdrawing' constituting a part hereof and in which likerefer ence characters designate like parts;

Figure l is a view in longitudinal cross section of aflexible elementiembodyingthe principles vof my invention,

Fig. 2 is a similar view of a modification of the structure shown inFig. 1, and

- Fig. 3 is a view in longitudinal crosssection of such a wheel elementhaving a elements.

. Referring to Fig. 1, thestructure therein 1 illustrated comprisesacompound hub 1 havinga central opening 2 by which itrmay be secured onan axle or shaft,;and alsofhaving .an' extending port on 3 comprising asubtion 3.

A plurality of spring elements each comprising a cylindrical base 12 anda, plurality elated therewith, are disposedin the Openings 7 of-tlie hubflange; with thelongitudinalaxes of the spring leaves 13 extendingaxially of the hub. The spider l0iisxprovided withopenings 1% adapted toreceive wearing shoes 15 of manganese alloy or the like, forthevsprings, which shoes are also utilized tofacilitate-assembly ordisengage ment of'the spring units. The extending or freeportions of thespr1ngleaves13 engage the shoes v l5-for the purpose of transmittingtorque from the rim toithef hub.

A gea-rcase 16 is' disposed {around the. gear member 8 and secured tothe hub-portion 3 by .sphericallyishapedseatingportions 17, whichperinitKlimited universal movement of the hub 1. -The engagement:oftliesurfaces special form of wearing shoe for the spring ,vof projectingspring-leaves 13, rigidly asso- 11, and 17 with the spherically-rurvedsurface of the hub is in the nature of a bearing tit, which permitsrelative movement of the co-operating members. and the upper portion ofthe hub i'lange (5, which engages with the gear rim 8, is sphericallycurved for the same reason.

in operation, torque is transmitted from the gear rim 8. which isordinarily co-operatively engaged with the pinion member ot a motor,through the spider 10, and the spring leaves 12), to the hub tlange (lor vice versa, it the rim be driven from the hub. The illustratedstructure permits of relative i'novement ot the rim and the hub, and thespring elements function to yieldingly restrain angular movementsthereof.

To remove the spring elements, the shoes 15 are driven inwardly againstthe ends of the spring leaves 1-?) to force the spring bases 12 out ofthe openings 7.

The structure shown in Fig. 2 diti'ers from that of Fig. 1, principallyin thatthe hub portion 1 is a unitary member, independent of a car wheelor other supporting element, and is provided with an extension 18 havinga spherically-curved surface, 19. which is adapted to lit acomplementary shaped portion of a spider 20 to which the gear rim :21 issecured, as by shrinlv'ing. A radially extending flange 22 of the hub 1has a spherical seating engagement 23 with the rim 21. as in Fig. 1, andis provided with a plurality of openings 24- for receiving the bases 1901" the spring nests 13, which are disposed similarly to those shown inFig. 1. The substantially cup shape wearing shoes 15 are inserted inopenings 25 of the spider 520.

In Fig. 3, I have shown a modified form of wearing shoe 26, which is ofsuch length thatthe open end 27 of a shoe will engage the correspomlingbase 12 of the springs 13 before the free ends of the leaves of thespring elements bottom in the base of the shoe. This structure adaptsthe cup member 26 to the removal of the spring elements by allowing themto be pushed through the openings 25 without destroying the springleaves 13.

It is evident from the above description of my invention that flexibleelements made in accordance therewith provide simple and eliicient meansfor o iitaining limited universal movement of a gear rim on itssupport.- ing hub while being resiliently restrained against angularmovement thereon. The structures I have illustrated also provideadequate lubrication for the engaging parts since the space between thehub and rim flanges or spiders may constitute a lubricating chamber,which is supplied through suitable openings 28 in the hub portion.

Although I have described a specific embodiment of my invention. it willbe obvious to those skilled in the art that various modifications may bemade in the details of construction, in the design and proportion of theseveral co-operating parts and in the manner ot applying my inventionwithout departing l'rom the principles herein set forth.

ll claim as my invention 1. it liexible element. comprising a, hubportion. a rim portion and spring elements co-operatively (l'l, ftl1'ill !f the same, said spring elements comprising a evlindrical basehaving spring leaves extending theret'roin and axially disposed withrespect to said hub portion.

2. A tlexible clement comprising a hub portion. a rim portion and springelements co-operatively engaging the same, said spring elementscomprising a cylindrical base having spring leaves extending therefromand axially disposed with respect to said hub portion. said hub and rimportion being relatively movable.

8.1K flexible clement comprising a hub portion, a rim portion and springelements eo-operatively engaging the same, said spring elements com'irising a cylindrical base having spring leaves extending therefrom andaxially disposed with respect to said hub portion, said rim beinguniversally rotatable on said hub.

4'. A flexible element comprising a hub member having aspherically-curved seating portion, a rim having a movable lit on saidportion, and a plurality of spring elements comprising bases havingleati springs secured thereto, the leaves of said springs extendingaxially of said hub.

5. A flexible element comprising a hub member having a sphericallvcurvcdseating portion, a rim having a movable lit on said portion, and aplurality of spring elements comprising bases having leal' springssccured thereto. the bases of said springs being secured in said hub andthe leaves thereof being disposed axially of said hub and adapted toengage said rim.

(3. A flexible element: con'iprising a hub having a spherically-curvedseating portion and a radial flange extending tliere'lironi, a rimhaving a depending flange portion for engaging the curved portion ofsaid hub, and spring elements extending axially oi: said hub and rimand, having their respeotive ends disposed in openings provided in theflanges of said hub and rim.

7. A tlcxible element comprising a hub having a sphericall v-curvedseating portion and a radial flange provided with openings, a rimportion adapted to engage said curved portion and having openings insul'istantial alinement with the openings of said hub, and spring nestscomprising bases secured in the openings of said hub flange and springshoes secured in the openings of said rim, the leaves of said springsbeing distill llti

posed axially of said hub and adapted to engage the shoes of said rim.

8. A flexible element comprising a hub having a spherically-curvedseating portion and a radial flange provided With openings, a rimportionadapted to engage said curved portion and having openingsinsubstantial alinement with the openings of said hub, and spring nestscomprising bases secured in the openings of said hub flange and Wearingshoes of manganese alloy secured in the openings of said rim, the leavesof said springs being disposed axially of said hub and adapted to engagethe shoes of said rim.

9. The combination With a spherioallycurved hub, of a complementary rimhaving a movable fit therewith, a plurality of spring elements disposedaxially thereof, and a casing movably mounted on said hub.

10. The combination with a sphericallyourved hub of a complementary rimportion and a casing having spherically-curved seating portions forengaging said hub.

11. The combination With a sphericallycurved hub, of a complementary rimportion, axially disposed spring elements for yieldingly restraining therelative movement of said rim and hub, and a casing havingspherically-curved seating portions for engaging said hub.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name this 17th day ofMarch 1924.

GEORGE EATON.

